Bulgari Family Historic Vehicle Collection

Bulgari Family Collection-1936 Hudson 65 Custom 8 2D
Convertible

By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, New York Bureau
The Auto Channel

For over 130 years the Bulgari family has been recognized as the
foremost purveyor of fine jewelry throughout Europe and the world. Their
products have graced the most notable celebrities, and ownership of a
Bulgari creation carries with it an unalterable symbol of excellence.
Ultimately, the Bulgari mystique has found its way into all forms of
hospitality and fine couture.

Born into this appreciation of excellence, scion of the company
Nicola Bulgari learned to understand the elements of fine design and taste.
While growing up in Rome he appreciated the beauty of European cars, but he
was more thrilled when he saw a high quality, American-made automobile
driving on the streets, capturing his imagination.

Nicola Bulgari is not the typical car collector. He cares little
about capital appreciation, winning the most trophies or owning the most
toys. He simply loves cars! He maintains two collections: one in Rome,
Italy – the other in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Nicholas Bulgari

Bulgari Family Collection-1950 Pontiac
Silver Streak Coupe

Bulgari Family Collection-1930 GMC Taxi, Model 6, Series H
Yellow Cab

Bulgari Family Collection-1936 Hudson 65 Custom 8 2D Convertible

American automotive designers were appreciated by some Europeans.
But, because they competed with products with greater local prestige, they
had to admire these cars from afar. However, when one converses with Nicola
about the beauties of, particularly, the great General Motors cars of the
pre-World War II era, one can see that his passion evolves from a true
understanding of beauty.

For more than thirty years Nicola Bulgari, Vice-Chairman of the
contemporary Italian jeweler, BVLGARI, has been assembling one of the
world’s largest collections of antique and vintage Buick automobiles.
Bulgari’s passion for Buicks dates back to his childhood in Rome when
Buick was the car of choice for dignitaries, diplomats, heads of state and
even the Vatican.

“I fell in love with the Buicks. To me, they were a symbol of
America. They had glamorous styling, personality, power and responsiveness.
They are luxurious without being ostentatious and offer the quality
normally associated with far more expensive import cars.”

Nicola Bulgari was willing to lend a selection of his finest cars
for display in the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. We got a look at
them at a recent exhibit. Often unrecognized by American enthusiasts, even
to this day, these cars made their way into the garages of American
automotive connoisseurs before World War II and have now reached new levels
of appreciation. A greater appreciation of the classic American cars has
evolved as a result of Nicola Bulgari’s passion to collect and
display them for all of us to enjoy.